MONSOON TREK IN NEPAL

Monsoon in Nepal is a beautiful season, starting from mid-June, peaking during July and August and gradually trailing off in early September. During monsoon season, the roads are wet and muddy, increasing the risk of landslide, flood and blockage of the road and the weather is also not that clear, therefore monsoon is not considered the best time to trek in all the destinations. But Nepal, with its geographical diversity, is always ready to entertain its visitor all round the year. Though some treks should be avoided during the monsoon but for certain areas, it can be the best time to visit Nepal as monsoon is full of life and greenery everywhere. The valleys are bloomed with wildflowers and lush greenery, villages are livelier and the trails are less crowded allowing you to explore the area in solitary. So, while autumn and spring are considered as the best seasons for trekking in Nepal, monsoon has its own advantages and experiences to offer to the trekkers. Trekking in the Trans Himalayan destination, cultural tour in the cities and safari in national parks are popular during monsoon season. The destinations like Mustang and Manang that fall under the Trans Himalayan region are in rain shadow area and receive no rain during monsoon. During this time, trails are quieter, travelers are likely to get offers, more choices and full attention from the locals and the service providers. However, travelers should be prepared with contingency plans as there can be chances of delays and flight cancellation due to rain in other parts of the country. If you are ready to try monsoon traveling in Nepal, some of the best trekking destinations are:

Upper Mustang

Upper Mustang can be the best destination to plan your trek during your visit to Nepal in monsoon season. Mustang is aTrans Himalayan region receiving the minimum to no rain fall during the season. There are numbers of trekking and hiking routes in Upper Mustang, which offer the best blend of cultural and geographical diversity. You can witness the surreal natural beauty, amazing mountain views and unique Highland Buddhist culture during your trek as the ancient culture is still practiced in its very pure form. Since you need to take few flights to reach Mustang, you need to have some buffer days in case of flight delays.

Lower Mustang

Lower Mustang is another best trekking destination in Mustang. Since Mustang falls under the rain shadow of Dhaulagiri, you don’t have to come across any issues regarding the weather and enjoy your walk in the deserted landscape, surrounded by cliffs in all different colors and bizarre formations. You can have smooth trek in the Mustang region even during monsoon, expect for the flight delay due to weather in arrival destinations (Kathmandu and Pokhara).

Nar Phu Valley

Yet another beautiful monsoon trek destination can be Nar Phu Valley. Nar Phu Valley lies in the northeast of Annapurna region offering the best off the beaten trail and complete wilderness. As it lies north of the mountain, it doesn’t receive rainfall and high wind current. During this trek, you will get the chance to experience the ancient culture, unique dialects, explore the lost valleys of Nar and Phu, Manang, Ngawal villages and old monasteries. This trek was first opened to travelers only in 2002. If you want to avoid the crowded popular trek, then Nar Phu can be the best destination to visit all year round.

Upper Dolpo

Upper Dolpo is a fantastic destination with incredible mountain views, landscape and sceneries and ancient culture highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhist culture. This region receives less rainfall than other regions. So it’s one of the best destinations to visit during monsoon. The region received very less visitors but caught people’s interest after the travel book of Peter Matthiessen and movie of Eric Valli. The natural beauty, unspoiled culture, gompas, canyons and cliffs and the majestic Himalayan views are some of the few reasons to travel to Upper Dolpo.

Annapurna Circuit

Annapurna Circuit Annapurna Circuit is a popular trek destination. Since, most of the part of route lies in the rain shadow area, it can be a good trekking option during the season. As it’s a popular destination, it is crowded in the peak season, so if you want to have better experience of the trail and enjoy the nature in solitary, then Annapurna Circuit Trek during monsoon can be an ideal visit. You can either take flight or travel by road to reach the beginning point of the trek but flight is highly recommended during monsoon season due to road risk factors and also its shortens your trek duration.